0:00:04 > 0:00:08Right now, nearly 4,500 miles away,
0:00:08 > 0:00:11Matt Baker and the Wild Alaska Live team are witness
0:00:11 > 0:00:13to the world's biggest feast.
0:00:15 > 0:00:16After months of being frozen,
0:00:16 > 0:00:21the arrival of summer brings a four-month rush to feed and breed,
0:00:21 > 0:00:24attracting eagles, sharks, bears and wolves,
0:00:24 > 0:00:27all triggered by the annual arrival of Pacific salmon
0:00:27 > 0:00:30to this vast wilderness.
0:00:30 > 0:00:34Wild Alaska Live is capturing this incredible spectacle on TV
0:00:34 > 0:00:36and online.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39The Alaskan wilderness may seem a world away,
0:00:39 > 0:00:43but we are here every day this week to reveal the wilder side
0:00:43 > 0:00:46closer to home, right here in the UK.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49As a wildlife cameraman, I've travelled all over the world,
0:00:49 > 0:00:52but the wildlife and wild landscapes of these islands
0:00:52 > 0:00:55hold a special place in my heart and are full of both
0:00:55 > 0:00:58inspirational and surprising wildlife stories.
0:01:00 > 0:01:04As a zoologist, I love to get out and about to the wilder parts
0:01:04 > 0:01:07of the UK, to discover the conservation projects
0:01:07 > 0:01:10that help keep this country wild.
0:01:10 > 0:01:12Over this series, we're travelling from rivers to mountains,
0:01:12 > 0:01:16from forest to seas, and even celebrating some of our
0:01:16 > 0:01:20wildest cities, to bring you the best our country has to offer.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23The UK is a lot wilder than you may think.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26And this is your daily dose of the best that it has to offer.
0:01:26 > 0:01:28This is Wild UK.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53Each day this week, we're looking at a different wilderness
0:01:53 > 0:01:55and wild space in the UK.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58Today we're looking at one of the more surprising wildernesses,
0:01:58 > 0:02:02one that's found in our towns and cities - the urban wilderness.
0:02:04 > 0:02:05Today we're in Glasgow.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08Now, I'm not saying that this is the Serengeti,
0:02:08 > 0:02:10but it's surprising how many creatures have
0:02:10 > 0:02:14adapted to the hustle and bustle and noise of city life.
0:02:14 > 0:02:15Just like we have, I suppose.
0:02:15 > 0:02:17And it's not all concrete jungle.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20You'd be surprised at how many wild pockets there are,
0:02:20 > 0:02:22even in our busiest cities.
0:02:22 > 0:02:26Where I live in East London, we've got allotments, parks, canals.
0:02:26 > 0:02:31In fact, three quarters of our urban areas are classed as natural,
0:02:31 > 0:02:33rather than built on.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36And it's those kind of places that allow wildlife
0:02:36 > 0:02:40to live out their lives in our most populated areas.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43Later in the show I'm heading to Newcastle and Gateshead
0:02:43 > 0:02:47to see a kind of bird that I have never seen in a city before.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51I associate them with isolated islands and abandoned headlands,
0:02:51 > 0:02:53but they've made themselves at home here.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55We're joined by some familiar faces,
0:02:55 > 0:02:58sharing their best past urban experiences,
0:02:58 > 0:03:02and I'm meeting Dr Dawn Scott, who's discovering just how
0:03:02 > 0:03:05the most cunning of our native mammals is making a success
0:03:05 > 0:03:06of city living.
0:03:06 > 0:03:08GASPS
0:03:08 > 0:03:09- Yay!- Badger!
0:03:09 > 0:03:11How fantastic.
0:03:11 > 0:03:16But first, time for a snapshot of the UK's cities and towns in 2017.
0:03:20 > 0:03:24Across the UK, 90% of the population live in urban areas,
0:03:24 > 0:03:27totalling a staggering 59 million people.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31And that's before we even start counting the wildlife.
0:03:33 > 0:03:37It may come as a surprise, but only 7% of the UK's total area
0:03:37 > 0:03:39is classified as urban.
0:03:40 > 0:03:45And, of that, over three quarters of the land is made up of green space,
0:03:45 > 0:03:47rivers...
0:03:47 > 0:03:48and parks.
0:03:52 > 0:03:56Plenty of space for animals cunning and streetwise enough to make us
0:03:56 > 0:03:57their neighbours.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01Gardens have become a rich source of food,
0:04:01 > 0:04:04and homes for some of our most recognisable birds...
0:04:05 > 0:04:07..and even some surprises.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14And in North London, gangs of fallow deer
0:04:14 > 0:04:17roam the streets, looking for succulent grass.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24As our industrial rivers have been cleaned,
0:04:24 > 0:04:26wildlife thrives above the water...
0:04:31 > 0:04:33..and that's because it thrives below.
0:04:36 > 0:04:40Nature can find a home nearly anywhere, so keep your eyes peeled.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42The UK is wilder than you think.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49Throughout the week here on Wild UK,
0:04:49 > 0:04:52we have taken you to some of the most remote parts of the country,
0:04:52 > 0:04:55from the Farne Islands off the coast of Northumberland,
0:04:55 > 0:04:58to the high mountains of Snowdonia in North Wales.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01These are terrific wilderness areas,
0:05:01 > 0:05:03with a great variety of wildlife to be spotted,
0:05:03 > 0:05:05if you're lucky enough to get there.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08But just how wild can it get closer to home?
0:05:08 > 0:05:11Here in the UK, 80% of us live in towns or cities,
0:05:11 > 0:05:15but if you know what to look for and where to look,
0:05:15 > 0:05:20even the most metropolitan areas can offer up a wild experience.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24In 2016, David Lindo took to the streets
0:05:24 > 0:05:27to give his top tips for city wildlife watching.
0:05:32 > 0:05:38Birmingham, our second largest city, a hectic, revitalised conurbation.
0:05:38 > 0:05:42It's also one of our greenest cities and, perhaps surprisingly,
0:05:42 > 0:05:46home to some of Britain's most iconic animals.
0:05:46 > 0:05:50You just need to know where and when to look.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52One of my top tips for finding wildlife at this time of year
0:05:52 > 0:05:55in urban areas is to head for some trees.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58But it does mean getting up early, but it's well worth it.
0:06:00 > 0:06:04And in central Birmingham, this means heading for the city's canals,
0:06:04 > 0:06:08the best place to experience the dawn chorus.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16BIRDS TWEET
0:06:16 > 0:06:18That's a wren.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21It's got a classic loud voice with a trill at the end.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24And in the very background, I can hear a blackbird.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31I love the mornings, because no matter where you live,
0:06:31 > 0:06:32it's just a different world.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37All these voices come from nowhere,
0:06:37 > 0:06:39voices that you may not have even realised were there.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48A lot of research has been done on the songs of urban birds
0:06:48 > 0:06:53and it's been found that, number one, they're singing a lot earlier,
0:06:53 > 0:06:54due to streets lights
0:06:54 > 0:06:58and the fact that the nights are a lot shorter to them now.
0:06:58 > 0:07:00And also, their songs have changed.
0:07:00 > 0:07:04Some birds have become a lot more higher pitch and louder.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07Great tits, for example, their song has adapted
0:07:07 > 0:07:10because they need to break the noise of the traffic,
0:07:10 > 0:07:13and the rural great tits do not recognise
0:07:13 > 0:07:16the city great tits when they sing.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23Now, for tip number two, head high.
0:07:24 > 0:07:27In the centre of Birmingham, the new library provides
0:07:27 > 0:07:31the perfect place to spot one of the world's top predators.
0:07:34 > 0:07:36Well, I'm staring at that tower,
0:07:36 > 0:07:39which is one of the tallest structures in Birmingham,
0:07:39 > 0:07:42because there's a pair of peregrines actually nesting.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45So with any luck, we might see it fly out
0:07:45 > 0:07:47and actually give us a display flying around.
0:08:01 > 0:08:02Wow! That's amazing.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09They have a very dynamic shape.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17Surprisingly broad-winged for a falcon.
0:08:23 > 0:08:27Peregrines have been nesting on this tower for 16 years.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34Up to six pairs are now breeding in the city,
0:08:34 > 0:08:37a massive increase in the last few years.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42And a huge part of that success is down to the fact
0:08:42 > 0:08:44that they've discovered urban areas.
0:08:44 > 0:08:47The buildings that we construct are fantastic,
0:08:47 > 0:08:52because they are artificial cliffs. They can nest in comfort.
0:08:52 > 0:08:57To add to that, they have an abundant supply of food - pigeons.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00Research has found that city life is so good,
0:09:00 > 0:09:03peregrines hatched in places like this are choosing to breed
0:09:03 > 0:09:05in other urban environments.
0:09:07 > 0:09:11The thing I love about watching peregrines is the effortlessness
0:09:11 > 0:09:14of their flight, the way they just drift on the wind
0:09:14 > 0:09:16as if they haven't got a care in the world,
0:09:16 > 0:09:19and then, with like a flick of a switch,
0:09:19 > 0:09:22become this ultimate killing machine,
0:09:22 > 0:09:27diving at up to 200 miles an hour to hit a pigeon and knock it dead.
0:09:27 > 0:09:29And with that magnificence,
0:09:29 > 0:09:34that is why the peregrine is the king of the urban jungle.
0:09:36 > 0:09:38I tell you what, it's hard to top that
0:09:38 > 0:09:40for an urban wildlife encounter.
0:09:41 > 0:09:45Time for tip number three - keep an eye on social media.
0:09:47 > 0:09:52Just north of Birmingham, a small town within earshot of the M6 Toll,
0:09:52 > 0:09:55where council ranger Rob Taylor has been monitoring an
0:09:55 > 0:09:59urban encroachment that sent the internet wild.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02- So how many deer do you think you've got here?- 200-300.
0:10:02 > 0:10:06Well, there's actually three there. How long have they been coming here?
0:10:06 > 0:10:10Up until the 1970s there was no mention of red deer in this area,
0:10:10 > 0:10:13cos all this used to be coal pits and mines.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16You know, there wasn't many trees in sight, but since then,
0:10:16 > 0:10:19the deer have been coming here because of the trees
0:10:19 > 0:10:21that have been planted as part of this community forest.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24It's just incredible to see such a large mammal
0:10:24 > 0:10:28in such close proximity to humanity.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34These red deer have spilled out of nearby Cannock Chase,
0:10:34 > 0:10:39where a population approaching 400 is outgrowing the park.
0:10:46 > 0:10:48As they get used to humans,
0:10:48 > 0:10:51so there will be more close encounters like these.
0:10:54 > 0:10:58I am truly blown away by the sight of 16 red deer
0:10:58 > 0:11:02right next to a building site and also next to a housing estate
0:11:02 > 0:11:03in an urban area.
0:11:03 > 0:11:05I've never come across this before.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10I think the thing to remember is, just imagine that anything can
0:11:10 > 0:11:14turn up at any time. You might come across a herd of red deer.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17You might come across something else amazing, so keep your eyes peeled.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27David's right, you know. You never know what's going to turn up and,
0:11:27 > 0:11:29you know, if you're walking to work, or on your lunch break,
0:11:29 > 0:11:32if you keep a sharp lookout, you never know what you might see.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35Absolutely. He might have seen red deer in Birmingham,
0:11:35 > 0:11:37but very near where I live in East London,
0:11:37 > 0:11:40there's even been sightings of a herd of fallow deer,
0:11:40 > 0:11:42especially in the autumn and winter.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46The deer are drawn in from the surrounding woods to graze
0:11:46 > 0:11:49on the short grass of people's front lawns and road verges,
0:11:49 > 0:11:51right in the heart of a housing estate
0:11:51 > 0:11:54where the residents sleep, blissfully unaware.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58There's a great deal of activity happening in our cities
0:11:58 > 0:12:00under the cover of darkness.
0:12:00 > 0:12:02You know, when we close our curtains and draw down our blinds
0:12:02 > 0:12:07at night, all sorts of creatures come out, particularly mammals.
0:12:07 > 0:12:11Badgers, bats, hedgehogs, and they go about their busy little lives
0:12:11 > 0:12:13while we're fast asleep.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16But of course, there's one mammal in particular, isn't there,
0:12:16 > 0:12:19that's really become synonymous with urban living,
0:12:19 > 0:12:21and that's the red fox.
0:12:21 > 0:12:25And a couple of weeks ago, I went to Brighton to meet with Dr Dawn Scott,
0:12:25 > 0:12:29and she told me how the fox has become such a city slicker.
0:12:31 > 0:12:35Since they were first reported in urban areas in the 1930s,
0:12:35 > 0:12:39fox numbers in Britain's towns have been steadily increasing.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42Now on average, there are between two and 12 adult foxes
0:12:42 > 0:12:45per square kilometre of urban area.
0:12:47 > 0:12:51To find out why foxes are thriving in our towns, I've come to Brighton,
0:12:51 > 0:12:54where Dr Dawn Scott is running a ground-breaking study
0:12:54 > 0:12:58to get a better idea of how foxes are adapting
0:12:58 > 0:13:00to the urban environment.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03So why do foxes do so well in cities, then?
0:13:03 > 0:13:06Well, cities provide foxes with everything they need -
0:13:06 > 0:13:08secure places where they can den and raise cubs
0:13:08 > 0:13:11and there's also loads of food.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14So what I'm going to do is show you a few places in cities that
0:13:14 > 0:13:17foxes like, which helps them to do really well.
0:13:17 > 0:13:18Fantastic.
0:13:19 > 0:13:23Our first stop is a local park, and it's the least manicured areas
0:13:23 > 0:13:25that the foxes love best.
0:13:26 > 0:13:30Scrub provides cover for them to have some security to have cubs
0:13:30 > 0:13:32and raise them.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35So we're going to look for any signs of cubs, and that usually is
0:13:35 > 0:13:39worn ground, maybe shoes or tennis balls they like to collect,
0:13:39 > 0:13:43and also holes on the ground, so they're about that size,
0:13:43 > 0:13:46and you will get that really strong smell of foxes.
0:13:47 > 0:13:49This is such dense cover in here.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52Yeah. There's some very clear trails along here as well.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56There's a worn area under there.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58- Yeah.- And if I look down here, there's a worn area
0:13:58 > 0:14:00under here as well.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03So it might be that the actual den entrance is covered underneath
0:14:03 > 0:14:06the log pile. And that would be perfect, because they like to go
0:14:06 > 0:14:10under sheds, very small spaces, to crawl in,
0:14:10 > 0:14:13so that nothing else can get in there with the cubs.
0:14:13 > 0:14:17These little refuges are gems in an urban area for foxes.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20This is really what they need, and we need to keep these little rough
0:14:20 > 0:14:23places of scrub to allow the wildlife to flourish.
0:14:23 > 0:14:28Dawn has been using electronic tags and motion control cameras to follow
0:14:28 > 0:14:31the lives of 22 urban foxes.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34So I have some footage and these are two foxes that we
0:14:34 > 0:14:37collared separately, Fleet and Fennec,
0:14:37 > 0:14:40and we think one's a cub and one's an adult dog fox.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43and when we started off recording them,
0:14:43 > 0:14:46there was definitely a submissive behaviour in Fennec.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49And slowly over time, Fennec became more and more dominant,
0:14:49 > 0:14:52to the point where Fleet actually left the territory completely.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55- Wow!- Out of the city and into a rural environment.
0:14:55 > 0:14:59- No, really?- Yeah.- He got booted out of town, then?
0:14:59 > 0:15:00Yeah, he ran off.
0:15:02 > 0:15:06When Fleet took to the country, he covered 315 kilometres
0:15:06 > 0:15:09in less than a month, and that's a fascinating finding
0:15:09 > 0:15:10of Dawn's study.
0:15:11 > 0:15:15Compared with rural foxes, the territories of families
0:15:15 > 0:15:18in cities are tiny, only a few streets.
0:15:19 > 0:15:21Why?
0:15:21 > 0:15:23Well, it's the easy pickings.
0:15:24 > 0:15:28In the countryside, a rural fox will be living on all sorts of things,
0:15:28 > 0:15:30like fruits and berries and earthworms.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32What sort of thing are they eating here?
0:15:32 > 0:15:34I mean...?
0:15:34 > 0:15:37Opportunities here are different, very different.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40When people get takeaways, they sometimes drop things on the floor,
0:15:40 > 0:15:44so the foxes have an opportunity to pick those things up that we leave
0:15:44 > 0:15:46behind, a bit like street cleaners.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49A lot of people think of foxes going inside of bins,
0:15:49 > 0:15:51but they're actually just...
0:15:51 > 0:15:54We're leaving enough down on the ground for them to pick up
0:15:54 > 0:15:57- and get a good feed.- Yeah. If a bin is open and the fox can get in
0:15:57 > 0:16:00and there's something tasty, they will have a go.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03But a lot of the bins now are closed and protected,
0:16:03 > 0:16:06so it's not as easy to get food, but there's plenty about for
0:16:06 > 0:16:07them on the floor.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12Foxes survive in our inner cities, but it's in the suburbs
0:16:12 > 0:16:14that they really flourish.
0:16:15 > 0:16:17- Hello.- Hello.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20Dawn's taking me to a house where they know they have
0:16:20 > 0:16:23regular visits. We're going to stake out their their garden.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28Gardens with veg plots, composting, decking and sheds
0:16:28 > 0:16:32make great habitat for foxes, but there's one factor
0:16:32 > 0:16:33that's the main draw -
0:16:33 > 0:16:36people are increasingly leaving food out for them.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41They're arriving in the gardens at the time when there's food,
0:16:41 > 0:16:45they're visiting gardens that have food, and so they're completely
0:16:45 > 0:16:46shifting their behaviour.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49And the family groups tend to be bigger, so what you're
0:16:49 > 0:16:53having is, you're changing the population dynamics of an animal
0:16:53 > 0:16:55in this urban area as well.
0:16:55 > 0:16:57How they respond to us is fascinating.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00We're sort of evolving together, in a way.
0:17:00 > 0:17:01- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:17:02 > 0:17:04Our stakeout isn't going very well.
0:17:04 > 0:17:09It's half-past 11 and zero foxes, but Dawn has a backup plan.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12This is one of the gardens where she keeps a camera trap,
0:17:12 > 0:17:16so we're checking the footage from last night.
0:17:16 > 0:17:20I think the record we've had is 20 different cats in one garden.
0:17:20 > 0:17:22And hello, cat, again. Ooh!
0:17:24 > 0:17:25- Yay!- Badger!
0:17:25 > 0:17:28- Fantastic.- So it's no fox.- Yeah.
0:17:28 > 0:17:30We've got badgers and that makes me happy.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32But we do have something there.
0:17:32 > 0:17:34That does look fox-like, doesn't it?
0:17:34 > 0:17:35Could be a fox cub.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39Here's the badger again. We've just seen the fox cub,
0:17:39 > 0:17:41so they're almost at the same time.
0:17:41 > 0:17:45Sometimes the foxes come up and nip the badgers' bottoms to get them out
0:17:45 > 0:17:46of the way of the food.
0:17:47 > 0:17:51It's amazing what wildlife you can see in an urban area.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54We're just talking about two animals here, foxes and badgers.
0:17:54 > 0:17:55There's loads more.
0:17:55 > 0:17:57Urban areas are incredibly special for wildlife,
0:17:57 > 0:17:59- and we should savour it. - Absolutely.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08The interesting thing is, is that generally across the UK,
0:18:08 > 0:18:10fox numbers are on the decline,
0:18:10 > 0:18:14so it's great to see that they can really thrive in our cities.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16Absolutely, and I remember, you know,
0:18:16 > 0:18:18I grew up on the very edge of a city, and in those days,
0:18:18 > 0:18:21I never saw a fox and now every time I go back,
0:18:21 > 0:18:23I'm seeing them in broad daylight.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26Now, that doesn't necessarily mean there's more of them,
0:18:26 > 0:18:29perhaps they're just bolder than they used to be.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32Absolutely. Now, if you are an animal that can adapt
0:18:32 > 0:18:37to live alongside mankind, then that's only going to be a benefit,
0:18:37 > 0:18:39because unfortunately, a lot of times,
0:18:39 > 0:18:42our influence is more destructive.
0:18:42 > 0:18:44And there's a real prime example of that.
0:18:44 > 0:18:49Now, back in 1832, the very last great bustard was shot
0:18:49 > 0:18:54in the UK, but now there's a move to bring back this long-lost beast.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58Back in 2016, Springwatch went to Wiltshire to meet David Waters,
0:18:58 > 0:19:01who has been a driving force behind this project.
0:19:23 > 0:19:27I think I've always had a really strong interest in wildlife
0:19:27 > 0:19:29and as soon as I was old enough to walk,
0:19:29 > 0:19:31I had a pair of binoculars around my neck.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35My parents bought me a subscription to -
0:19:35 > 0:19:38I think it was a monthly magazine - the World Of Wildlife,
0:19:38 > 0:19:41and I used to look at all the exotic or big,
0:19:41 > 0:19:46exciting wildlife and it always seemed to be hundreds of miles away.
0:19:47 > 0:19:49And then I learned of the great bustard.
0:19:56 > 0:20:03Great bustards have a natural sort of aristocratic elegance about them.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05The bill is often just slightly elevated
0:20:05 > 0:20:08and you could imagine them as sort of Spanish grandees
0:20:08 > 0:20:09as they strut about.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19They really do look a classy bird.
0:20:22 > 0:20:26When I learned that great bustards used to live not only in England
0:20:26 > 0:20:27but in Wiltshire, where I lived,
0:20:27 > 0:20:30and it had been persecuted to extinction,
0:20:30 > 0:20:33yeah, I'm quite miffed about that, I'm very disappointed.
0:20:35 > 0:20:39There was a place in Russia called Saratov,
0:20:39 > 0:20:41where great bustard nests were actually destroyed
0:20:41 > 0:20:44by their methods of agriculture.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47I formed The Great Bustard Group and the idea was,
0:20:47 > 0:20:51we could just go and rescue some of those eggs, rear the birds,
0:20:51 > 0:20:52and release them.
0:20:54 > 0:20:58Now we're actually able to go and source our birds from Spain
0:20:58 > 0:21:01and then bring them back and do all the rearing here in Wiltshire.
0:21:04 > 0:21:05When a great bustard chick hatches,
0:21:05 > 0:21:09they're like little sort of Tyrannosaurus dinosaur type things.
0:21:09 > 0:21:15Getting out of that egg takes up to 24 hours - exhausting work for them.
0:21:20 > 0:21:24They can't feed themselves for the first five to ten days,
0:21:24 > 0:21:27and they actually rely on Mum to bill-feed them.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31I can't pretend I make myself look like a female bustard,
0:21:31 > 0:21:34but I can at least disguise my features,
0:21:34 > 0:21:36so the bustard doesn't realise I'm a human.
0:21:45 > 0:21:49Currently, we've got somewhere, plus or minus a couple,
0:21:49 > 0:21:5240 adult or sub-adult great bustards.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57Early in the spring or the tail-end of the winter,
0:21:57 > 0:21:59the males get together and they lek.
0:21:59 > 0:22:03They do this very, very elaborate display
0:22:03 > 0:22:05and they're really sorting out who's who,
0:22:05 > 0:22:07who's going to be the dominant male.
0:22:09 > 0:22:13The full display of a adult male great bustard is...
0:22:14 > 0:22:17It's very, very spectacular, but it's also bizarre.
0:22:20 > 0:22:24They've got this ability to turn their wings and tail
0:22:24 > 0:22:26almost sort of inside out.
0:22:29 > 0:22:30It's got this inflatable pouch,
0:22:30 > 0:22:33a gular pouch, that runs down the front of the throat
0:22:33 > 0:22:35and it inflates it right up.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01All the under feathers are on display and they're white, very,
0:23:01 > 0:23:06very bright white, and it's just this big white sort of powder-puff,
0:23:06 > 0:23:08that doesn't look like a bird at all.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10There's this white blaze, just appears on the hillside.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22When the males are displaying, it's...
0:23:22 > 0:23:26It seems to be about size and whiteness.
0:23:28 > 0:23:30The great bustards see in ultraviolet
0:23:30 > 0:23:34and we know the feathers of the great bustard are highly reflective
0:23:34 > 0:23:38for ultraviolet. So what's bright to us is probably
0:23:38 > 0:23:39sort of psychedelic to them.
0:23:45 > 0:23:49The females will choose the big, heavy males with the best, brightest
0:23:49 > 0:23:53plumage, and those successful males probably account
0:23:53 > 0:23:54for a lot of the matings.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04Nothing happens terribly quickly with great bustards.
0:24:06 > 0:24:10Males are thought to need to be five years old before they breed.
0:24:10 > 0:24:15I'm hoping that within the next three to five years,
0:24:15 > 0:24:16we'll be able to say -
0:24:16 > 0:24:20the UK great bustard population is self-sustaining.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23That's always been the aim of the project, but the last
0:24:23 > 0:24:25couple of years have really taken us close to that point.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30To have created a new great bustard population would be
0:24:30 > 0:24:32a fantastic achievement, I think.
0:24:41 > 0:24:43They are seriously big birds.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46Nearly as big as you, right, Colin?
0:24:46 > 0:24:50You're not wrong. Well, the males can be about a metre tall
0:24:50 > 0:24:54and they say they can weigh up to 18kg, which is about the weight
0:24:54 > 0:24:55of a four-year-old child.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58And, you know, I've got to say, hats off to David and his team
0:24:58 > 0:25:02for attempting a reintroduction, because these sorts of projects are
0:25:02 > 0:25:04really complicated, aren't they?
0:25:04 > 0:25:07And they can have lots of unforeseen problems and actually go on
0:25:07 > 0:25:08for a really long time.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11So it's great that they have the security of that
0:25:11 > 0:25:12Ministry of Defence land.
0:25:12 > 0:25:16Of course, normally, wildlife decides on its own where it's going
0:25:16 > 0:25:20to set up home, and there's one particular sea bird
0:25:20 > 0:25:23that has decided to do just that in the cities of
0:25:23 > 0:25:25Newcastle and Gateshead.
0:25:25 > 0:25:27And I have never seen them in such a location before,
0:25:27 > 0:25:31so I went there some weeks ago to check them out for myself.
0:25:31 > 0:25:32Lucky you!
0:25:33 > 0:25:39The city of Newcastle upon Tyne is one of the UK's busiest locations.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41Together with neighbouring Gateshead, it's home
0:25:41 > 0:25:45to nearly 500,000 people, and a hub of trade and industry.
0:25:45 > 0:25:48But amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life,
0:25:48 > 0:25:51there are a few wild treasures, if you know where to look.
0:25:52 > 0:25:57Roe deer, dippers, red squirrels,
0:25:57 > 0:26:01and along the river Tyne, otters, seals,
0:26:01 > 0:26:03and even a dolphin has been spotted.
0:26:05 > 0:26:07But perhaps the most famous wild residents can be found
0:26:07 > 0:26:11in spring and summer months, and thanks to its call,
0:26:11 > 0:26:13it's not too difficult to find.
0:26:14 > 0:26:18This is my first time in Newcastle and what a wonderful place it is.
0:26:18 > 0:26:23I just love these bridges. They're absolutely beautiful.
0:26:23 > 0:26:25But I'm not the only one who appreciates these.
0:26:26 > 0:26:30Look at this. Dozens and dozens of nesting kittiwakes.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33I have never seen them in a place like this before.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36I associate them, you know, with isolated islands
0:26:36 > 0:26:39and abandoned headlands.
0:26:39 > 0:26:41But they've made themselves at home here.
0:26:52 > 0:26:54Kittiwakes get the name from the calls they make.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01Kittiwakes, kittiwake, kittiwake.
0:27:01 > 0:27:02Maybe.
0:27:03 > 0:27:06They seem to have established themselves on every little ledge
0:27:06 > 0:27:08that they can find around this part of the city,
0:27:08 > 0:27:10but they're not feeding around here.
0:27:10 > 0:27:14These will only hunt out on the open ocean.
0:27:14 > 0:27:18It's a long foraging journey in search of sand eels and small fish,
0:27:18 > 0:27:19to feed their chicks.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24There are many nesting sites around Newcastle and Gateshead,
0:27:24 > 0:27:28but the most impressive of all has got to be the Baltic Art Gallery.
0:27:32 > 0:27:36And I've joined Kirsty Pollard from the Durham Wildlife Trust to get a
0:27:36 > 0:27:39closer look at these special birds.
0:27:39 > 0:27:43The best place for a fantastic view into their private lives
0:27:43 > 0:27:44is on the fourth floor.
0:27:47 > 0:27:48I can hear them, anyway.
0:27:48 > 0:27:49Here they are.
0:27:49 > 0:27:51- These are our kittiwakes. - Ah, look at that.
0:27:51 > 0:27:53As you can see, looking at the Baltic building,
0:27:53 > 0:27:56it's perfect replicant of a cliff edge.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59So the kittiwakes are happy, but they're also very sheltered.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02They're sheltered from the wilder elements here and they've also
0:28:02 > 0:28:04got lower levels of predation here.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07What's so lovely about seeing them so close up is being able to see the
0:28:07 > 0:28:10parents really both taking a part in that role.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13You know, it's a lot of head bobbing and they both feed the chicks and
0:28:13 > 0:28:14when you see them doing that,
0:28:14 > 0:28:17and the sort of bond they have between the mum and the dad,
0:28:17 > 0:28:18it's quite heart-warming to see.
0:28:18 > 0:28:22Now, they say that this is the most inland colony in the world,
0:28:22 > 0:28:24but how do you think they got here?
0:28:24 > 0:28:27There are natural nesting colonies not far from here up at Marsden
0:28:27 > 0:28:30and North Shields - probably those colonies were just getting too full
0:28:30 > 0:28:33and the birds were looking for extra nest spaces and, obviously,
0:28:33 > 0:28:37the river is a natural sort of corridor for birds
0:28:37 > 0:28:40that like water, and they found a quite happy place
0:28:40 > 0:28:44at the Baltic and down at the Tyne bridges and made themselves at home.
0:28:44 > 0:28:46They won't be here for the whole year, will they?
0:28:46 > 0:28:48That's right. They arrive about March time,
0:28:48 > 0:28:50and they're here usually until about August time,
0:28:50 > 0:28:53so it's literally just coming in to build their nests,
0:28:53 > 0:28:55raise their babies and then they go back out to sea
0:28:55 > 0:28:57and that's where they spend most of their life,
0:28:57 > 0:29:00and we just get to tap in and enjoy a little bit of them
0:29:00 > 0:29:01while they're here with us.
0:29:05 > 0:29:08It's wonderful listening to these sounds in the middle of the city,
0:29:08 > 0:29:13because, you know, it's not every place would accept 1,000 sea birds
0:29:13 > 0:29:15nesting right in the heart of their cultural centre.
0:29:17 > 0:29:18It's very encouraging.
0:29:18 > 0:29:20It means that, you know, in future,
0:29:20 > 0:29:22perhaps our cities can get a little bit wilder.
0:29:32 > 0:29:34Well, that weather was a bit wild, wasn't it, Colin?
0:29:34 > 0:29:35It certainly was.
0:29:35 > 0:29:39We were pretty damp at the end of the day, but I have always wanted to
0:29:39 > 0:29:41visit Newcastle and Gateshead.
0:29:41 > 0:29:44I think every person I've ever met from there over the years has just
0:29:44 > 0:29:47been a lot of fun, so I reckon the kittiwakes have chosen a really good
0:29:47 > 0:29:49place to set up home.
0:29:49 > 0:29:51Well, of course, it's not just kittiwakes that have taken up
0:29:51 > 0:29:54residence in our cities. Most town centres you'll find gulls,
0:29:54 > 0:29:59but in Aberdeen there's a much more unusual sighting,
0:29:59 > 0:30:00and that's the oystercatcher.
0:30:02 > 0:30:06Oystercatchers naturally nest on the ground on shingle beaches,
0:30:06 > 0:30:08but in the building boom of the 1960s,
0:30:08 > 0:30:13many high-rise buildings were built with flat roofs covered in pebbles -
0:30:13 > 0:30:16ideal places for them to nest. And, even now,
0:30:16 > 0:30:19as roofs are being resurfaced without pebbles,
0:30:19 > 0:30:22keen birder Alastair Duncan is providing the birds
0:30:22 > 0:30:26with trays of little stones on the rooftops and they're thriving.
0:30:28 > 0:30:31Wow! Oystercatchers nesting on a flat roof.
0:30:31 > 0:30:32That's amazing, isn't it?
0:30:32 > 0:30:34And it just goes to show that wildlife's everywhere
0:30:34 > 0:30:37if you just take a look, and if you need a little bit
0:30:37 > 0:30:40of extra inspiration, then here's our city guide
0:30:40 > 0:30:42to where the wild things are.
0:30:44 > 0:30:47It's not just small stuff that can find a home in our cities.
0:30:49 > 0:30:52Even large mammals, like the red deer, can find space.
0:30:55 > 0:30:58The autumn rut of red deer can be witnessed in Richmond Park
0:30:58 > 0:31:02in London, where over 300 individuals run wild
0:31:02 > 0:31:06less than ten miles from the centre of our largest city.
0:31:08 > 0:31:11One bird has become synonymous with our city centres
0:31:11 > 0:31:13and can easily be overlooked.
0:31:13 > 0:31:15But don't.
0:31:15 > 0:31:18Take a closer look and the feral pigeon is actually
0:31:18 > 0:31:20a surprisingly colourful bird.
0:31:21 > 0:31:23They can be found in most of our major cities,
0:31:23 > 0:31:26where large buildings make great replacements
0:31:26 > 0:31:28for their natural cliff nesting sites.
0:31:30 > 0:31:33Our city waterways can be teeming with wildlife
0:31:33 > 0:31:37and are great places for bird-watching.
0:31:37 > 0:31:40At the weir in Dumfries, the fish and lamprey in the water
0:31:40 > 0:31:44attract an array of birds, including herons, goosanders,
0:31:44 > 0:31:46cormorants and grey wagtails.
0:31:50 > 0:31:52And in Leeds, and doubtless other cities,
0:31:52 > 0:31:54the mistle thrush is known to nest using the shelter
0:31:54 > 0:31:58of the city traffic lights to protect its brood.
0:31:58 > 0:32:00Forget rush hour, this is thrush hour!
0:32:06 > 0:32:10In suburbia, our homes, parks and gardens play host
0:32:10 > 0:32:11to nocturnal visitors.
0:32:12 > 0:32:15Hedgehogs snuffle from garden to garden,
0:32:15 > 0:32:19hogging the hedges and fences, and can be found across the UK.
0:32:25 > 0:32:26It really is surprising, isn't it?
0:32:26 > 0:32:30The wide variety of wildlife that's made its home in our cities.
0:32:30 > 0:32:33It really is and, you know, cities do provide you with
0:32:33 > 0:32:35a good opportunity to get close to animals.
0:32:35 > 0:32:37So if you're into photography,
0:32:37 > 0:32:40it means you can get some fairly sort of quirky shots,
0:32:40 > 0:32:42because they don't run away from you.
0:32:42 > 0:32:44So I would suggest, stick on a wide-angle lens
0:32:44 > 0:32:47and try getting really close.
0:32:47 > 0:32:51All week, we've been asking you to share your photos of wild places
0:32:51 > 0:32:55on social media, using the hashtag "my wilderness"
0:32:55 > 0:32:58and you've sent through some great photos of your cities,
0:32:58 > 0:32:59like these ones.
0:33:00 > 0:33:04This peregrine falcon perched high on Manchester Cathedral.
0:33:06 > 0:33:10Or this peaceful scene across Richmond Park in the west of London.
0:33:11 > 0:33:15All this week, as we celebrate the UK wilderness, over in Alaska,
0:33:15 > 0:33:19Matt Baker, Steve Backshall and Liz Bonnin are exploring
0:33:19 > 0:33:21the remotest parts of that region.
0:33:21 > 0:33:25And, of course, they're there to witness this animal extravaganza
0:33:25 > 0:33:28that's driven by the return of the Pacific salmon
0:33:28 > 0:33:30to the rivers of Alaska in order to breed.
0:33:30 > 0:33:33But of course, it's not just animals that are attracted
0:33:33 > 0:33:35to this annual migration.
0:33:35 > 0:33:39It's also important for some of the people that make Alaska their home.
0:33:39 > 0:33:41On the final episode of Wild Alaska Live,
0:33:41 > 0:33:44they will be revealing the life of a fisherman,
0:33:44 > 0:33:47who can make an annual salary in one week
0:33:47 > 0:33:50if the salmon return in good numbers.
0:33:50 > 0:33:52But what's it like trying to film all this?
0:33:52 > 0:33:55Wild UK went behind the scenes to find out.
0:33:58 > 0:34:00This is Bristol Bay.
0:34:00 > 0:34:03Almost half of the world's annual catch of sockeye salmon
0:34:03 > 0:34:06will be caught here over the next few weeks.
0:34:08 > 0:34:10Cameraman Mark Sharman has come here to film
0:34:10 > 0:34:13this extraordinary fishing bonanza.
0:34:13 > 0:34:17Tonnes and tonnes of fish come in fresh, and then there's a huge
0:34:17 > 0:34:19cannery operation behind me.
0:34:19 > 0:34:21It's so productive, these waters.
0:34:21 > 0:34:26Mark will be spending the next 24 hours on a 32-foot fishing boat,
0:34:26 > 0:34:27the Barnacle.
0:34:28 > 0:34:32Deckhand Justin is into his third season aboard this boat.
0:34:32 > 0:34:34Yeah, I mean, it's what we're here for.
0:34:34 > 0:34:38I mean, it's entirely exhausting, but we've been waiting
0:34:38 > 0:34:41for months and months for this.
0:34:41 > 0:34:43It's crazy. It's crazy!
0:34:44 > 0:34:47So this is the main cabin of the boat.
0:34:47 > 0:34:51It holds all three of the guys and somehow I've got to squeeze in.
0:34:51 > 0:34:53I think I'm going to be sleeping on the floor here,
0:34:53 > 0:34:56but it seems like it's all work and no rest.
0:34:57 > 0:35:01It took skipper Joe Trotter 20 years to save enough money
0:35:01 > 0:35:04to buy the Barnacle, as he needs to catch a lot of fish
0:35:04 > 0:35:06to keep his investment afloat.
0:35:06 > 0:35:10I think they're just expecting a whole lot of fish,
0:35:10 > 0:35:11which is a good thing.
0:35:11 > 0:35:14We'll sleep next week, I guess.
0:35:14 > 0:35:16Pat, you want to get your gloves on?
0:35:16 > 0:35:18We're going to set here. OK.
0:35:18 > 0:35:22To prevent overfishing, the industry is tightly regulated
0:35:22 > 0:35:24and all the fishermen are given strict time windows
0:35:24 > 0:35:26to make their catch.
0:35:26 > 0:35:30This ensures that a large number of salmon can escape upriver to spawn.
0:35:30 > 0:35:33These guys have only had about two or three hours' sleep
0:35:33 > 0:35:36in the last 24 hours. They're just going to push on through,
0:35:36 > 0:35:39cos whilst the fishing is good, they're going to keep fishing
0:35:39 > 0:35:42and I'm doing my best to keep up with them and keep out of their way.
0:35:50 > 0:35:53After a successful few hours of fishing, they fill their hold.
0:35:56 > 0:35:59Now they need to off-load their catch to the tender vessel.
0:36:00 > 0:36:02Did we get close to three bags full of fish?
0:36:02 > 0:36:03Close to four.
0:36:03 > 0:36:05OK, so close to 4,000 lbs.
0:36:09 > 0:36:13The next location isn't proving so bountiful, but skipper Joe gets
0:36:13 > 0:36:16a tip-off on where the fish have turned up.
0:36:16 > 0:36:20We'll just head over there now, see if this show is still going.
0:36:22 > 0:36:24Whoa!
0:36:24 > 0:36:25Loads of them.
0:36:27 > 0:36:31As the sun sets, the crew fight fatigue, but keep working.
0:36:31 > 0:36:33They can't afford much rest,
0:36:33 > 0:36:35as their fishing deadline will be up tomorrow.
0:36:37 > 0:36:41Good first day. It's currently almost 1.20am in the morning
0:36:41 > 0:36:44and it's time for a midnight feast and some wine.
0:36:47 > 0:36:49It's the start of day two.
0:36:49 > 0:36:52Joe's already up. He's been making coffee.
0:36:53 > 0:36:55With the fishing cut-off looming,
0:36:55 > 0:36:59the boats jostle for position at the best salmon spot of all,
0:36:59 > 0:37:00the notorious North Marker.
0:37:02 > 0:37:06It seems like every one of Bristol Bay's 1,500 fishing boats have
0:37:06 > 0:37:10congregated here and they're all hoping to catch some
0:37:10 > 0:37:15of the 300 million salmon that migrate through this point.
0:37:15 > 0:37:19This morning, I wasn't quite sure if we were going to get that much fish,
0:37:19 > 0:37:22but it ended up working out really well. Yeah, it was a good day,
0:37:22 > 0:37:23I'm happy about it.
0:37:33 > 0:37:37That looks like seriously tough work, but I guess it's a question
0:37:37 > 0:37:39of making hay while the sun shines.
0:37:39 > 0:37:42The summers are short and everything's got to make best use
0:37:42 > 0:37:44of that annual bounty.
0:37:44 > 0:37:47It's certainly keeping the Alaska Live team pretty busy,
0:37:47 > 0:37:50and you can catch up with them and all the latest happenings
0:37:50 > 0:37:52online and on social media.
0:37:52 > 0:37:58Now, our cities are pretty noisy, vibrant, bustling sorts of places.
0:37:58 > 0:38:02Not exactly where you would expect to find our most colourful bird.
0:38:02 > 0:38:05But the One Show's Mike Dilger discovered
0:38:05 > 0:38:07this isn't necessarily the case.
0:38:10 > 0:38:12The kingfisher is one of Britain's
0:38:12 > 0:38:15most beautiful and spectacular birds.
0:38:15 > 0:38:18But they can only thrive on clean, healthy rivers
0:38:18 > 0:38:22with a good supply of fish to feed on.
0:38:22 > 0:38:26So you might be surprised to find they've recently been spotted on
0:38:26 > 0:38:29an urban waterway right in the heart of South London.
0:38:31 > 0:38:34Over the last few months, Tomos Brangwyn has been watching
0:38:34 > 0:38:38and photographing these shy birds in the most unusual of spots.
0:38:40 > 0:38:43- Is that a shopping trolley?- Yeah, this kingfisher has sussed out that
0:38:43 > 0:38:45there was a huge shoal of stickleback
0:38:45 > 0:38:49using the trolley as an artificial reef and it just perched itself
0:38:49 > 0:38:52on one of the wheels, and had a perfect view to catch a fish
0:38:52 > 0:38:55- out of the shoal here.- And I know these photographs have taken
0:38:55 > 0:38:57an awful lot of work.
0:38:57 > 0:38:59Oh, yeah. I grew up locally.
0:38:59 > 0:39:03I've been watching kingfishers on these urban rivers for years
0:39:03 > 0:39:07and it took about six months of my time.
0:39:07 > 0:39:08And this one's amazing.
0:39:08 > 0:39:10I've seen kingfishers in the countryside
0:39:10 > 0:39:13and they use sandbanks and they dig their own holes, but here,
0:39:13 > 0:39:15it's found a drainage pipe in a concrete bridge!
0:39:15 > 0:39:18Yeah, they've just completely adapted to the man-made environment.
0:39:18 > 0:39:21All they need is a bit of concrete, a hole and they can bring up
0:39:21 > 0:39:23a whole family.
0:39:24 > 0:39:27At first light, we head upstream to give ourselves
0:39:27 > 0:39:29the best chance of seeing them.
0:39:30 > 0:39:34In the 1980s, this river was essentially a drainage pipe,
0:39:34 > 0:39:38polluted by human waste and industrial run-off.
0:39:38 > 0:39:42Now, although on the surface it hardly looks pristine,
0:39:42 > 0:39:46the water quality and habitats have improved enormously,
0:39:46 > 0:39:49enough to bring back a healthy supply of fish
0:39:49 > 0:39:51and, in turn, a kingfisher.
0:39:53 > 0:39:56We cover ourselves in camo gear and get comfy.
0:39:56 > 0:39:59A kingfisher's territory can be three miles long,
0:39:59 > 0:40:02so it may be a while before it visits this section of the river.
0:40:08 > 0:40:12After just half an hour, it becomes apparent how rich and varied
0:40:12 > 0:40:15the birdlife is in this concrete riverbed.
0:40:16 > 0:40:20They're just such a good sign that the river's in fantastic condition.
0:40:23 > 0:40:26But still no sign of a kingfisher.
0:40:27 > 0:40:31That is until a flash of blue shoots straight past us.
0:40:31 > 0:40:32- TOMOS WHISPERS:- Yeah, yeah, yeah.
0:40:37 > 0:40:42It was an enticing glimpse, but the kingfisher wasn't hanging around.
0:40:42 > 0:40:45It was another three hours before our next visit.
0:40:48 > 0:40:49There it goes.
0:40:50 > 0:40:52Here we go, here we go.
0:40:56 > 0:40:58It's so exciting!
0:41:00 > 0:41:04There's a kingfisher on the branch just over my left shoulder.
0:41:09 > 0:41:12- Here it comes.- Wow! Look at that hover.
0:41:12 > 0:41:16The kingfisher is searching the water for fish.
0:41:16 > 0:41:17Nothing this time.
0:41:18 > 0:41:22But, as we sit there watching, this stunning bird works its way
0:41:22 > 0:41:24from perch to perch.
0:41:26 > 0:41:30Whether it's an iron pole or a concrete wall,
0:41:30 > 0:41:36each location is a vantage point the kingfisher uses to spot fish.
0:41:36 > 0:41:38It's just gauging kind of, you know, whether it can catch the fish
0:41:38 > 0:41:41or not, working out depths, working out angles.
0:41:42 > 0:41:45Their eyes have evolved polarising filters, which means
0:41:45 > 0:41:50they can easily see movement through the water's glare.
0:41:50 > 0:41:52- Up he goes.- Here he comes.
0:41:52 > 0:41:53Down to the water. There we go.
0:41:53 > 0:41:55It's diving for a fish.
0:41:55 > 0:41:57Got it! Yeah, yeah, yeah.
0:41:57 > 0:41:59Back up. It's got a fish.
0:41:59 > 0:42:00Yes!
0:42:03 > 0:42:05Oh, it's using the bar to stun it...
0:42:06 > 0:42:07..so it can swallow it.
0:42:12 > 0:42:13And straight down the gullet.
0:42:16 > 0:42:17What a little jewel.
0:42:19 > 0:42:22Kingfishers have also been spotted on urban rivers in Leeds,
0:42:22 > 0:42:24Coventry and Manchester.
0:42:25 > 0:42:27This is crazy. That kingfisher's perching there,
0:42:27 > 0:42:31just metres away from people walking past, to and from work,
0:42:31 > 0:42:36on their mobile phones, and they have no idea it's there.
0:42:36 > 0:42:37We do.
0:42:41 > 0:42:44I love kingfishers and it's great to know that even in one
0:42:44 > 0:42:47of our busiest cities, the water quality is good enough
0:42:47 > 0:42:48to support them.
0:42:48 > 0:42:52It's just goes to show, doesn't it, that if the habitat is right,
0:42:52 > 0:42:53the animals will turn up.
0:42:53 > 0:42:54Absolutely.
0:42:54 > 0:42:58Well, it's the last episode of Wild UK,
0:42:58 > 0:43:01so thank you for joining us and we hope you've enjoyed discovering
0:43:01 > 0:43:04some of the best wildernesses that this country has to offer.
0:43:04 > 0:43:09Don't forget, the last episode of Wild Alaska Live this Sunday,
0:43:09 > 0:43:11BBC One, 7.00pm.
0:43:11 > 0:43:14But for now, Lucy and I are going to leave you with some
0:43:14 > 0:43:18wonderful wildlife images shot right across these islands,
0:43:18 > 0:43:22that just go to show that the UK is wilder than you may think.
0:43:22 > 0:43:24Thanks for watching.